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IndyCar: Felix Rosenqvist cleared to compete at Gateway

By Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 08: Felix Rosenqvist of Sweden, driver of the #10 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, waves during the NTT IndyCar Series DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 08, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 08: Felix Rosenqvist of Sweden, driver of the #10 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, waves during the NTT IndyCar Series DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 08, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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Felix Rosenqvist has been cleared to resume IndyCar competition in this Saturday night’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

After his #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda was launched above the SAFER barrier and into the turn two catch fence on the opening lap of this past Sunday’s IndyCar race at Pocono Raceway as a result of a five-car wreck also involving Takuma Sato, Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe, rookie Felix Rosenqvist exited his car under his own power.

However, following this wreck on the opening lap of the rain-shortened 128-lap (from 200) ABC Supply 500 around the three-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) “Tricky Triangle” oval in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, the 27-year-old Swede was taken to a hospital for further evaluation with “non-life-threatening” injuries, including minor back pain and a headache.

He ended up being evaluated and cleared later in the day, but he still required further evaluation in order to be cleared to return to competitive action.

On Tuesday, he received that medical re-evaluation and was cleared to return to racing.

Thankfully none of the other four drivers who were involved in this wreck suffered any major injuries, either.

Rosenqvist is set to drive a Monster Energy-sponsored #10 Honda for the first time in this Saturday night’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

https://twitter.com/FRosenqvist/status/1164193257850621952

Chip Ganassi Racing NASCAR Cup Series driver Kurt Busch carries primary sponsorship from Monster Energy for most races, and he is in his first season driving for the team.

Through the first 14 races of the 17-race 2019 season, Rosenqvist sits in ninth place in the championship standings, and he is the top rookie in a deep class of four impressive rookies that this season has produced.

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Rosenqvist has, however, struggled in oval races, so he will be looking for a solid result in this Saturday night’s 248-lap race around the four-turn, 1.25-mile (2.012-kilometer) World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway oval in Madison, Illinois.

He sits in a 20th place tie in the oval championship standings with a top finish of 12th place in the race at Texas Motor Speedway, a race he finished two laps off the lead lap. His average finish in the four oval races that have been contested so far this year is just 19.00.

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The Bommarito Automotive Group 500, which is the fifth and final oval race on the 2019 IndyCar schedule, is scheduled to begin at 8:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 24, and it is set to be broadcast live from World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.